Hobbies And Interests
House Spiders
The species Achaearanea tepidariorum, otherwise known as the house spider, ranges in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inch. The house spider has a mottled brown body, and the legs alternate with bands of light brown and tan. Found mostly indoors, this spider typically builds webs in corners or near the ceiling. It abandons its webs frequently to build new ones. The house spider is related to the black widow spider, but its bite is not toxic to humans.
Fisher Spiders
The fisher spider belongs to the genus Dolomedes and they live in moist areas. Fisher spiders have the ability to skim across water and will dart underwater to hunt for prey. Their bodies and legs are a yellowish-brown with two pale lines running along the top of the head. This large spider also has a fuzzy appearance due to the "hairs" that allow it to move across water surfaces.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are similar in size to fisher spiders, about 1 to 2 inches, and also have fuzzy bodies. They belong to the Lycosidae family and range in appearance from smooth gray and white stripes to a mottled gray or brown. Their key characteristic is speed as they run along the ground to chase down prey. Although they frequently enter people's homes, they are not toxic. Wolf spiders should not be confused with the brown recluse spider. The difference to note is that the brown recluse has a marking on the back of its head that resembles a violin.
Jumping Spiders
Named because they stalk their victims and then attack with a rapid jump, jumping spiders ambush their prey. Members of the Salticidae family, jumping spiders rarely build webs, but do occasionally hang from a drag line of silk. Some are brightly colored, while others are a mottled brown or gray, the jumping spider is less than 1 inch big and has a hairy appearance.